Middle Eastern Okra Bamya Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE OKRA RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (or pan with a lid) over medium-high until shimmering but not smoking. Lower the heat to medium and add the onions, garlic and chopped jalapeno peppers. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes stirring regularly (do not let the garlic burn, if needed adjust heat).
• Add the okra and sautee for 5 to 7 minutes over medium-high heat.
• Season with kosher salt, black pepper and spices. Toss to coat.
• Add the crushed tomatoes and water. Stir to combine. Add the tomato slices on top. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and cover most of the way (leave a little opening at the top). Let the okra simmer on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes or until the okra has softened. Uncover and add juice of ½ lime (more to your liking).
• Remove from heat and serve over rice or with warm pita bread.

BAMYA ( LAMB OR BEEF AND OKRA STEW)

Steps:

• Okra must be cooked so that its slimy texture is eliminated.
• The Greeks have the best technique for achieving this.
• Trim the conical tops with a sharp knife, then soak the okra in red wine-viegar (Khall) for 30 minutes, allowing 1/2 cup vinegar per pound.
• Drain, rinse and dry the okra and proceed with the recipe.
• This dish is popular throughout the Middle East and can be prepared with lamb or beef.
• Serve with rice.
• Preheat an oven to 325 F (165 C).
• In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, warm 4 tablespoons of the butter or oil.
• Working in batches, add the meat and fry, turning, until browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon transfer to a baking dish or stew pot.
• Add the onions to the fat remaining in the frying pan and saute over medium heat until tender and translucent, 8-10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, tomatoes, tomato paste, the 1 cup stock and mint (if using).
• Stir well.
• Pour over the meat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover and bake until all the liquid is absorbed, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings.
• Meanwhile, prepare the okra as directed in the note above.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, warm the remaining 2 tablespoons butter or oil Add the okra and saute for 3 mins, stirring gently.
• Remove the stew from the oven and arrange the okra on top in a spoke pattern.
• Sprinkle the lemon juice evenly over the surface.
• Re-cover the dish and return it to the oven.
• Bake for 35 minutes longer.
• Add stock or water if the mixture seems too dry.
• Serve the"BAMIA" stew piping hot.

BAMIEH (MIDDLE EASTERN OKRA STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, salt and black pepper; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned a light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add the lamb, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and garlic paste. Cook on medium heat until the lamb starts to brown, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste; cook and stir for another 5 minutes.
• Dissolve the beef bouillon cubes in 4 cups of boiling water. Pour the broth into the pot with the lamb and stir in the okra. If necessary, add water to cover the okra. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover and cook for another 45 minutes to 1 hour until the lamb is very tender and the stew reaches your desired thickness.

BAMYA MIDDLE EASTERN OKRA STEW

Steps:

• Start by cutting the tips off using a small knife, then wash the okra and drain well.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot, then saute a diced onion until it's soft and translucent.
• Add the washed okra to the pot, and saute for a few minutes. Add a crushed garlic to the pot and cook until fragrant.
• Add bay leaves, ground cumin, and turmeric. followed by vegetable stock to cover the okra, and cook for 20 minutes until the okra is cooked.
• Add a can of diced tomatoes, or fresh sliced tomatoes. And cook for 15 more minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add salt.
• Serve warm over rice.

BAMYA (MIDDLE EASTERN OKRA STEW WITH LAMB)

Steps:

• Slice meat into 3" pieces and wash in a strainer, until the water runs clear. Place meat in a 5-quart Dutch oven and add 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
• If using fresh okra, wash and trim the end by cutting around the "cap" to form a cone shape. If using pickled okra, rinse well before using.
• Remove meat from the pot and pour out any remaining liquid. Rinse the pot and place the meat back inside. Add vegetable or olive oil, onion, and paprika to the meat. Sauté, over medium-high heat, to brown the meat.
• Mix tomato paste into 4 cups hot water, stir to dissolve. Add to the pot, along with garlic, okra, chopped tomato, salt, and lemon juice. Simmer, covered, for 40 minutes. Serve Bamya over white rice.

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB AND OKRA STEW (BAMIA STEW)

Steps:

• Trim the baby okras and wash in cold water and then place in a colander to drain.
• In a large saucepan, heat the oil or butter and add in the meat and brown on all side.
• Add the crushed garlic and chopped onions to the meat and saute till brown.
• Add in the chopped tomatoes, stirring in till the tomatoes are all broken down and soft, for about 10-15 minutes.
• Add in all the spices and salt and give it a good mix.
• Add enough water to cover the meat (about 7-8 cups) and stir to combine well.
• Add in the trimmed okras and bring to boil.
• Cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, until the meat is tender (the sauce will thicken as it cooks).
• Lastly, pour in the lemon juice and add in the chopped coriander and carefully stir once or twice (careful not to mash the okras) and gently simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and serve with rice.

BAMIA

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, place the cubed lamb, half the onion, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, baharat and canned crushed tomatoes. Mix.
• Cover with water about an inch (2,5 cm) above the meat.
• Close the pressure cooker and cook over medium heat under pressure for 30 minutes or until meat is cooked through and tender.
• Add about 6 tablespoons of olive oil into a Dutch oven or large wok and add the remaining onion and the 5 coarsely chopped ​​garlic cloves.
• Sauté until the garlic and onion are slightly softened, then add the okra. Stir.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper, turmeric and cumin, and continue to stir over medium to high heat for about 15 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, mix well and cook for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes begin to release their juice.
• Add the cooked meat and its sauce to the okra mixture.
• Put the pot back on the heat and add the sugar and vinegar. Mix well.
• Cover and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
• Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small pan and sauté the cilantro and 10 crrushed garlic cloves over medium heat for a few minutes, until the garlic begins to turn golden.
• Add this mixture to the okra stew.
• Serve with rice.

OKRA STEW | MIDDLE EASTERN BAMIA RECIPE

Steps:

• Start by dicing the onion finely and add it to a stock pot along with the vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook it for 2-3 minutes until translucent
• Wash the veal pieces and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• To the pot, add the washed veal pieces and brown them from all sides for about 5 minutes
• Next add the tomato paste and and continue to cook for another few minutes
• Add the frozen okra to the pot along with the garlic which should be roughly chopped, the pomegranate molasses and 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Add about 10 cups of water in the pot, mix everything well, and bring to a rolling boil on medium heat for roughly 30 minutes
• After 30 minutes, check the tenderness of both the okra and the meat. If they are both still slightly firm, add more water (roughly 4-5 cups) and allow it to continue boiling for another 20 minutes
• Check the softness of the meat and okra, as well as the seasoning and adjust accordingly. If okra and meat are both tender, turn heat off and serve